Fit 4 Life | Reasons to get Fit in 5

Looking better is the most common reason for trying to get fit. It is a valid reason, especially in a world with Instagram stories and WhatsApp statuses. People seem to value appearance above all else. But that’s not the most pressing reason, though. Training can improve your life in so many other ways.

Here are five far more valuable ways in which training will transform your life.

DISEASE REPELLANT

Fit people stay healthier for longer. Regular training helps to maintain a healthier immune system to help fight off infections. It also protects against non-communicable diseases (NCDs). From heart disease to diabetes, regular exercise and proper nutrition will ward of NCDs and will even improve the health of persons who have already developed most of these diseases.

HEALTHY JOINTS

Well-toned muscles are not the only physical gains to seek through exercise. Training strengthens bones and joints, improving their function and reducing the risk of pain and injury. Exercise even helps in cases where damage has already been done; from lack of mobility to injury and arthritis, exercise can be a valuable treatment for joint-related issues.

IMPROVES BRAIN FUNCTION AND MENTAL STATE

Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain. This increased access to nutrients and oxygen will improve brain function. From memory to alertness, there are many benefits. The disease-preventing effect of exercise also extends to dementia and other brain-related illnesses. Exercise also improves mental state, reducing depression and anxiety.

IMPROVES PRODUCTIVITY

Numerous studies have shown that people who train are more productive than those who don’t. Not only does exercise improve mental state, memory, and alertness, it also raises energy levels. In addition, following a training routine teaches valuable life skills such as discipline, perseverance and goal-setting, which translate well to the world of work. In fact, fit people are so much more productive, that many Jamaican companies have joined the corporate fitness programme bandwagon in recent years.

IMPROVES CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION

One of the primary benefits of exercise is the improvement of the performance of the cardiovascular system. Lower blood pressure, better lung and heart function and greater vascularity all improve daily life. Unsurprisingly, they also ward off cardiovascular diseases. So if you have been avoiding cardio now is the time to start. 

These benefits, among others, lead to a far greater quality of life for people who train.

So, what are you waiting on to start exercising?

yourhealth@gleanerjm.com